laughing

American  

[laf-ing, lah-fing] / ˈlæf ɪŋ, ˈlɑ fɪŋ /

adjective

1. that laughs or is given to laughter.

   a laughing child.

2. uttering sounds like human laughter, as some birds.

3. suggesting laughter by brightness, color, sound, etc..

   a laughing stream; laughing flowers.

4. laughable.

   The increase in crime is no laughing matter.

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noun

1. laughter.

Other Word Forms

• unlaughing
  adjective
• laughingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of laughing

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at laugh, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

After both fighters predicted victory in their unification fight, lightweight champion Topuria, 29, pushed interim title holder Gaethje, who responded by laughing off the incident.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

“After it went in, I was laughing pretty hard,” Ehlers said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

Whether the lawyers were laughing when they typed this is known only to them.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

But then, reality sets in, and the ball ends up hitting you more than you hit the ball,” he says laughing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

I burst out laughing, and her face falls.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• humorous